Big changes could be coming to the WNBA — but not everyone is cheering. Reports suggest the league is seriously considering starting its season earlier than ever, a move that could shake up everything from college basketball schedules to international competition plans. But here’s where it gets controversial: this proposal could create major scheduling conflicts for rookies and veterans alike, drawing concern from both players and fans.
According to a report from Annie Costabile of Front Office Sports, WNBA owners are pushing for a regular-season start date that would overlap with the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament — a sacred event in college sports. If approved, this could mean that new draft picks wouldn’t join their WNBA teams until weeks into the season. It’s worth noting that no WNBA season has ever begun before May, making this idea truly unprecedented.
An earlier start might also collide with the yet-to-debut “Project B,” an ambitious international basketball tour backed in part by major business names once linked to LeBron James’s business partner, Maverick Carter. Initially rumored to be connected with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Project B’s leadership recently clarified that it isn’t receiving direct Saudi financing, even though a PIF-owned company, Sela, remains one of its partners. That connection alone has sparked debate — should players align with a project that even indirectly involves Saudi money?
While earlier coverage of Project B zoomed in on men’s basketball and whether it could lure NBA stars like LeBron James or Nikola Jokic, the real story may be in the women’s game. In recent months, Project B has made remarkable progress in recruiting WNBA stars. Players like union president Nneka Ogwumike, Alyssa Thomas, Jonquel Jones, Jewell Loyd, and Kelsey Mitchell have all committed to take part, according to USA Today.
Under the current WNBA calendar, players could comfortably play in Project B’s November-to-April season and still meet their WNBA commitments. But if the league pushes its start to March, things get messy. Those same players could end up violating the league’s “prioritization” rules — a policy from the last collective bargaining agreement that requires veteran players to report to WNBA training camp on time or face a possible full-season suspension. For players juggling international and league obligations, that could be a career-altering decision.
According to ESPN, “prioritization” hasn’t yet become a key issue in the new round of labor talks — but if league owners continue to push for an earlier start, it almost certainly will. The WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement was set to expire in late October, but after two extensions, it now runs through January 9. That date is fast approaching, and the decisions made before then could reshape the future of women’s professional basketball.
Jon Lewis, who has been covering the sports media landscape since 2006 through Sports Media Watch, continues to follow developments closely. He remains a trusted voice for breaking updates and analysis in this fast-evolving story.
The big question: Should the WNBA prioritize alignment with other leagues to maintain player availability — or take bold steps to grow on its own timeline, even if it means forcing stars to choose sides? What’s your take — is this progress or overreach? Share your thoughts below and join the debate.
